My ideas for avoiding beginner errors at Tokyo Recreation Present

Picture through Tokyo Recreation Present.

The Tokyo Recreation Present 2024 is over!

This was my first time presenting my recreation to the general public on the Tokyo Recreation Present, and it was an unimaginable expertise, with its personal distinctive traits in comparison with the conventions I’ve attended in France.

For individuals who could not know, the Tokyo Recreation Present is a online game conference held close to Tokyo over 4 days in September. The primary two days are reserved for professionals (individuals working within the online game business, journalists, and many others.), whereas the final two days (the weekend) are open to the general public. Round 250,000 individuals attend the occasion every year.

I’m writing this text to replicate on the errors I made and the issues I might do in another way if I had the possibility to do it once more. If it could assist others, even higher!

Hopefully, you’ll discover the knowledge you’re in search of!

The way to Register for TGS

From what I perceive, there are 3 ways to attend TGS:

Get invited to the “80 Chosen Indie”: You simply want to use by presenting your recreation. In case your recreation is chosen by the jury, you’ll be invited and given a sales space within the “80 Chosen Indie” part. I really feel like that is the most suitable choice: you get a free sales space, and your recreation is highlighted by TGS.
Be part of a delegation that is attending: I seen that a number of nations have been represented (Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, and many others.). I’m undecided the way it works precisely, however there is perhaps alternatives the place the worth {and professional} connections make it value it. Some delegations have their very own stands with featured video games, whereas others simply attend within the enterprise space.
Pay for a sales space (round $1000): That is what I did. It means that you can get an area within the indie recreation space, which you’ll customise in response to your wants.

Personally, I attempted to get invited to the “80 Chosen Indie,” however I wasn’t chosen… Since I actually wished to attend the occasion, I opted to pay for a sales space as an alternative.

I didn’t comprehend it on the time, however a French delegation was current. Perhaps I may have joined them, however I’m undecided if I might have been accepted, provided that I’m in all probability not but skilled sufficient within the business.

Organizing with TGS

I’m describing my expertise as somebody who paid for a sales space to take part in TGS. I’m undecided the way it works should you attend in one other manner.

As soon as your registration is confirmed, TGS provides you entry to 3 on-line platforms:

To handle the group of your sales space.
To rearrange conferences with the press (this entry turns into out there about 1.5 to 2 months earlier than TGS).
To rearrange conferences with professionals (this entry additionally turns into out there about 1.5 to 2 months earlier than TGS).

The platform to prepare your sales space

It appears intimidating at first. You’re given entry to a 200-page PDF that gives all the knowledge you want. It gave me a headache at first, and with all that data, I wasn’t even certain if I may convey my very own gear… However the truth is, you may! Regardless of the prolonged course of you must comply with, you even have numerous freedom in organizing your sales space.

There are numerous types to fill out, some obligatory and a few optionally available. Deadlines are all the time indicated, and also you’ll obtain e mail reminders because the deadlines method. The types cowl every part from renting pc gear to having meals delivered to your sales space.

For me, it was overwhelming to deal with all this data whereas additionally making ready the sport demo. I ended up filling out the types near their deadlines. Nonetheless, the perfect method, for my part, could be to dedicate one or two days to finish all the required types.

Remember the fact that relying in your requests, chances are you’ll incur further prices (resembling renting gear).
However should you panic like I did, don’t fear! You may all the time e mail the TGS contacts, they usually reply shortly and clearly. They have been very environment friendly in serving to me.

Platforms for organizing press/skilled conferences

You get entry to 2 separate platforms: one for the press and one for professionals. These platforms assist you to see who’s attending and ship invites with proposed assembly occasions.

Listed here are two errors I made and what to keep away from:

Time zone distinction: After I scheduled my conferences, I didn’t understand that the platform was displaying French time… So I ended up scheduling conferences for the midnight ><. Be certain to double-check the time zone when scheduling!
There are two distinct platforms: One for the press and one for professionals. I solely realized this per week earlier than TGS! I managed to catch up by sending invites, nevertheless it was a little bit of a scramble. Keep away from the panic by familiarizing your self with each platforms early on.

I additionally noticed one other matching app for skilled conferences, nevertheless it wasn’t affiliated with TGS. I’m undecided how nicely it really works.

Concerning contact via the platforms, I acquired extra responses from professionals.
I despatched many messages to journalists however solely obtained a couple of replies.

Organizing conferences and the sales space

I used to be lacking numerous issues right here, as I wasn’t well-prepared and lacked gear.
One among my important challenges was touring from France; it appeared a bit sophisticated to convey numerous gear to embellish my sales space.
However the truth is, most individuals touring from afar convey a suitcase stuffed with decorations for his or her sales space… whereas I used to be a bit unprepared.

Enterprise playing cards:
You want a great quantity of enterprise playing cards. Sadly, I didn’t have sufficient, so I ran out within the final two days. Ideally, I like to recommend having playing cards with English on one facet and Japanese on the opposite.

Flyers:
You’ll want flyers handy out throughout TGS, written in each Japanese and English. Goodies are additionally a good suggestion.

Decorations:
You’re free to embellish your sales space nevertheless you want. Since I didn’t have a lot, I simply printed giant photographs of the sport from a comfort retailer… Truthfully, don’t do it like that ^^”. In case you can convey high quality supplies, pack them in a big suitcase.

Skilled networking occasions

After every enterprise day, you’re invited to an occasion with limitless meals and drinks.
It’s well-organized and an excellent alternative to fulfill new individuals within the business.
All of the speeches have been in Japanese, so I couldn’t absolutely recognize that half…

The primary night takes place in a resort corridor proper subsequent to the TGS venue (a 10-minute stroll). It feels a bit fancy, however you may are available casually. It was an excellent expertise since I obtained to talk with different indie devs. I didn’t strive the meals, so I can’t touch upon that, however you solely get one invite for this occasion. If you wish to convey extra individuals, you’ll must pay for extra tickets. I seen that many indie devs weren’t there.

The second night invitations everybody current through the enterprise days. Sadly, I didn’t actually get pleasure from it since we have been exhausted and had two extra lengthy days forward.

In case you nonetheless have vitality and motivation, I feel these two occasions are nice alternatives to make skilled contacts. The second night appears extra informal, however I left early, so my opinion won’t be solely correct.

Public days

These are the 2 busiest days (practically 100,000 individuals per day). Be ready to be in your ft continuous from 11 am to five pm. Ideally, you must plan to have 3 to 4 individuals rotating shifts. We have been solely two, so there was no time to take breaks.

It’s useful should you can describe your recreation a bit in Japanese. I remorse that my Japanese expertise have been weak, which made conversations difficult. I typically needed to refer individuals to a small description sheet I had ready prematurely.

Advertising and marketing strategies generally is a bit stunning…
Having attended conventions in France, we are usually extra passive and let guests come to us. Right here, nevertheless, don’t hesitate to interact with guests extra actively, hand them a flyer, and introduce your recreation. In fact, don’t be pushy, however you’ll shortly sense should you’re bothering somebody.

It’s not essentially the most enjoyable factor to do, however with out it, you would possibly miss some alternatives to showcase your recreation. Generally it pays off as a result of individuals genuinely recognize your work!

As for me, I made the error of not making flyers… I solely had stickers, they usually didn’t even have the secret on them.
Briefly, I utterly tousled on that entrance. Plan to have between 500 and 1000 flyers, I feel it’s solely doable handy all of them out.

Conclusion

Would I attend the Tokyo Recreation Present once more?

Sure, I actually loved the expertise… However I might undoubtedly convey extra individuals subsequent time. I remorse not having the ability to discover extra of the occasion, particularly since a number of the bigger cubicles have been actually spectacular (notably these from the massive corporations).
Nonetheless, it’s additionally very exhausting, and I feel taking a time off out of the 4 would assist to remain simpler.

In order that was my expertise on the Tokyo Recreation Present as an indie developer! I offered my recreation Dagada’s Story, a puzzle-platformer impressed by the Mario sequence and Yoshi’s Island. I intention to recreate the sport really feel of the Tremendous Nintendo period.

Be at liberty to comply with me on social media and wishlist the mission on Steam!
When you have any questions on TGS or anything, don’t hesitate to achieve out!

またね!